Braden
"Gajima." Don't go.
Despite his words directed to Luna Alec, I know Jae was asking both of us to stay. His large hands were wrapped around one of my arms as his worried eyes flitted back and forth between the Luna and me.
The atmosphere of the pack house has become much different than it was several days ago, once it was discovered who was behind the attack on the Luna's clinic. A team of warriors, led by the Beta, has already been sent out to neutralize the threat. We don't know the details, but everyone is on edge worrying for their safety, as they are out of range for us to communicate with the pack link.
There is restricted movement again. The pack members that live closer to town have been called back and while we can leave the actual pack house, no one is venturing very far. With the warriors gone, a lot of us younger wolves have volunteered for pack duty, meaning that I haven't had a lot of time with Jae.
Those lighthearted moments in the morning sun still linger in my mind. I've ran through that pleasurable time a lot since then. Jae had sadly turned down my return offer, his shyness overpowering the arousal I could smell literally dripping out of him.
There's apparently no shyness when it comes to touching me. Coming home from night patrol lately, I've crawled into bed after my shower and have immediately been pulled into Jae's arms. He likes to wrap them around my waist and press his face into my hair before falling back asleep.
When I wake up much later, alone, I often find him spending time with the Luna or helping Virginia with the pups. He'll stay with me then, until I go out on patrol later, often putting his arm around my shoulders or waist or walking with my hand in his. In fact, he's been causally touching me so much it causes its own set of problems.
Jae has become much more touch-feely as he's become more comfortable with me. I tried my best not to get excited at my mate's every caress, but it was extremely hard. Really hard. I thought I was hiding my excitement well, until last night at dinner.
Jae and I were sitting with several other pack members also assigned to patrol. I was eating a lot, listening to Jae talk with the others. He's had a lot of practice on his English lately and I loved the sound of his voice as he spoke. He would only pause to put some of his food over onto my plate, the whole time keeping one hand placed on my knee.
At first, I could ignore it, just taking comfort in the closeness. Then Jae started to make little motions with his fingers, tracing circles on the fabric covering my thighs. When those fingers started trailing up and down, I had to bolt. I hurried out of the dining room, Jae following.
I tried to calm my heart rate down as I led up to the bedroom to get changed into just some shorts. As soon as we entered, Jae had me pressed back up against the door. There was instant heat as he crowded me back, his hands going confidently to the front of my jeans.
"Ah, you're hard." He had said, as if he only needed to confirm it.
"You knew?" I'd whispered embarrassingly, even as my body arched into his touch.
"Hm," he nodded, "your eyes get... " Jae trailed off before kissing me. It didn't take long for my sensitized body and all too soon I had been a naked, sticky mess in Jae's hands and very late for patrol.
I'm not sure what to think about Jae's hesitancy for me to return the same physical affections. Aside from that first time, Jae doesn't let me touch under his clothes or help him find release. I respect his boundaries, I know that this is all very new to him. My only fear is that his behavior is akin to a tourist trying out something local, as in, when in Rome.
It was when I was coming back to report to the Alpha this morning that I heard the news. Over on the Eastern patrol, a strong smell of an injured horse had been detected. No other signs of rogues had been found, but the Luna had overheard the news as well.
Luna Alec was arguing with the Alpha in his office. Not surprisingly the Luna wanted to go check on the horse, since he took care of more of the surrounding farms' animals. Alpha Christopher properly put his foot down, no way was the Luna leaving the pack house.
"We're a part of this community. We can't just bail out because there might be a risk. I need to help and I don't want to put any of the pack at risk, but I know that you won't let me go alone."
Anyone else in the pack listening, including myself, knew the argument was over. Whenever the Luna aligns himself with the pack, using the 'we' phrases, the Alpha is completely unable to resist.
Now, that has led to a team of warriors, the Alpha, Luna and myself preparing to take a van out to see if we can find and help the injured animal. I was allowed to go with to assist because I'm familiar with the tools that the vet uses. The Alpha offered to bring the horse back first, but the Luna is worried that if that much blood was scented in the air then he'll need to start administering care immediately.
Jae isn't very happy with me over my decision to go along, nor the Luna. He's definitely picked up the worry invading the pack and didn't want either of us to go. I've already spent the better part of the last hour assuring him we'll be fine.
A couple of the warriors are bringing the van around, while the rest of us wait in the foyer. Most of the others' family members are here to see them off as well, plus other members of the pack to wish us a safe trip. Stepping close to me, Jae moves his hands up to wrap around my face. He leans down to bring our gazes in line.
"Stay with me." He pouts, pressing our foreheads together. Aw man, it's not fair for him to give me the 'puppy eyes'. Reaching up, I place my hands over his.
"I need to go to help the Luna."
Jae just shakes his head stubbornly. Oh, he's so cute! I use his clinginess to my advantage, reaching up I wrap my hands behind his neck to hold him in place. In this position, I easily lean up and claim his lips with mine.
At first, he freezes. He doesn't pull away but his body tenses and I watch his eyes as they look around the crowded room. I know that no one here cares, or probably even notices, and I let my eyes drift close. Slowly, I adjust the angle of the kiss, finding the best position to fit them together. Taking my time, I nip and suck at his lips while waiting for him to relax.
Eventually he does, and I feel his resistance fall away. Then both of us are pulling the other close, enjoying several firm, but chaste, kisses before easing back. Jae pulls me all the way into his embrace, holding me against his chest and placing a quick kiss to the top of my head.
"I'll be back soon. Don't worry," I reassure him, but my inner wolf is absolutely basking in the fact that I as good as marked Jae in front of our pack as well as his obvious concern for me.
When the van pulls up, I reluctantly leave his embrace. Joining the Luna, we all head out, leaving a somber group of pack members behind. I follow the Alpha and Luna into the van, already packed with the vet's tools and medicine. There are no seats in the back, but one of the warriors is seated at the wheel, while the rest of the team are already shifted to run guard, almost thirty of us in total.
"Braden!" I look out through the open door of the van when Jae yells my name from the steps. For a while he just looks at me, his face torn with worry and indecision. I wait, but when he only stares, the Alpha shuts the door, closing me off from my mate. Slowly, we head down the drive, but I keep my eyes glued to Jae, who watches us drive off.
Seodulleo.
Jae's voice seems to reverberate inside my head. He spoke using the pack link.
"Luna," I whisper, shocked. "What does seodulleo mean?"
From nearby, the Luna's voice answers but I can't look away from Jae's figure, continuously growing smaller and smaller.
"Seodulleo?"
I nod.
"Hurry back."
A/N: *evil grin* Happy time's over.
